Intel Turns Its Focus to 5G Networking

Intel, a member of Verizon's 5G Technology Forum, also is partnering with the carrier in conducting field trials for 5G wireless products that show how millimeter wave spectrum—which can support data capacity and speeds that are greater than today's cellular networks—can be used to deliver high-performance wireless connectivity.
In addition, Intel is offering platforms and working with others to accelerate the development of early prototype solutions. The company's 5G mobile trial platform offers faster integration and testing of 5G devices and wireless access points, according to Intel officials.
"This is not just more blah, blah, blah," Evans said. "This is actual prototyping."
Intel also is offering new wireless communications products for smartphones, phablets, PCs and IoT devices. For the Internet of things, Intel unveiled the Atom x3-M7272, which includes an integrated modem for connected cars and IoT devices and can transmit data over 2G and 3G networks, which consumes less power than 4G networks, Evans said.

Other IoT offerings include the XMM 7115 modem for devices and applications based on the Narrowband IOT (NB-IOT) standard, the XMM 7315 modem that combines an LTE modem and application processor on a single chip and supports LTE Category M and NB-IOT, and the XMM 6255M for 3G connectivity but in a form that is 20 percent smaller than the previous generation.

In addition, the XMM 7120M LTE modem is aimed at machine-to-machine (M2M) applications that can include everything from security monitoring to smart metering to industrial automation.
The XMM 7480 is designed to bring LTE connectivity to smartphones, tablets and PCs and is aimed at compute-intensive user experiences such as multiplayer gaming and virtual reality applications.